Good Monday Morning, all.

As if it were needed, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu provided further confirmation last week that she won’t be “[rolling] out the welcome mat” for the incoming Trump administration if it comes to town and starts trying to deport people.

The Democratic mayor’s comments came after President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for border czar, Tom Homan, dismissed Wu, a two-time Harvard grad, as “not very smart” for her very public defiance, and questioned why any public official would stand in the way of getting criminals off the streets.

“They can not cooperate,” Homan told the cable news channel NewsMax last week, according to The Boston Herald. “But there are certain laws in place that they can’t cross and I hope she doesn’t cross it.”

Wu fired back in a statement, arguing that Trump and his lieutenants can “say whatever they want about me, but our public safety record speaks for itself: Boston is the safest major city in America.”

The mayor’s tough talk represented the latest escalation in tensions between the Bay State’s top Democrats and the incoming Republican White House as it firms up its plans to use the U.S. military to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally.

If Trump carries through on those plans, tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts also could be deported. However, the effort is expected to face vigorous legal challenges.

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey already has said that the State Police won’t be put to work assisting the new administration.

• Read More: A big climate bill is headed to Mass. Gov. Healey’s desk. What’s next? | Bay State Briefing

In an interview with MSNBC earlier this month. Healey noted that “every tool in the toolbox has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents, and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law.”

Massachusetts Republican Party Chairperson Amy Carnevale slammed Healey and Wu in a statement last week, saying that it’s “appalling and disgusting” that the two pols are “prioritizing appeasing the most radical elements of their political base over the safety of Massachusetts residents.”

Carnevale’s statement came in response to the news that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Boston had arrested two undocumented immigrants on child rape charges and taken another into custody who had been convicted of the same charge in Brazil.

“Parents across the Commonwealth are horrified that individuals charged with such serious crimes are allowed to roam free because local authorities refuse to work with ICE to remove these criminals from our streets,” Carnevale continued.

X boss Elon Musk also weighed in, attacking state policies and Boston’s decade-old status as a sanctuary city.

“Why are ‘sanctuary’ cities protecting child rapists? Unconscionable. Any politician who does so should be recalled immediately,” the billionaire, and close Trump ally, posted to the social media site, WBUR reported.

In that same statement, Wu defended the city’s approach.

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“Our homicide rates are among the lowest of any city nationally, and gun violence has been at an all-time historic low over the last two years here in Boston,” Wu said, according to WCVB-TV in Boston.

“This is no coincidence — it’s a reflection of the trust between our residents and our public safety officials and a result of our daily focus on community policing and coordinating city services. We will continue to focus on that work and have no intention of rolling out the welcome mat for them,” she continued.

At least one Bay State Democrat has acknowledged that the party’s immigration policies are a political liability.

Speaking to business leaders in Boston last week, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District, said the Democrats’ policies have “caused people to be afraid.”

“Our task is to know who is coming into the country — to have an orderly process that does not scare the bejesus out of people of Arizona and New Mexico,” Lynch said.

Can you hear them now?

There’s no doubt that Election Day went pretty well for Massachusetts Democrats. Vice President Kamala Harris handily carried the state; U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren coasted to reelection, and the party retained its super-majority on Beacon Hill.

Nonetheless, Bay State Dems are engaging in the same kind of group introspection that’s kind of become a cottage industry since Nov. 5.

Party officials announced a “virtual listening tour” last week that will analyze what worked and what didn’t in 2024; gather feedback on areas for improvement, and “foster a collaborative environment where all voices are heard.

“Your voice matters, and this is your opportunity to help us build on our successes and strengthen our movement for the future. Together, we can ensure the Massachusetts Democratic Party continues to represent and advocate for the values that matter most to our communities,” state Democratic Chairman Steve Kerrigan said in a statement.

Details on the sessions, conducted over Zoom, will be coming soon, the party said.

The plural of caucus is …

U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, has joined with several of his House colleagues to launch a pro-housing caucus on Capitol Hill. The group has been dubbed the “YIMBY Caucus.” Or “Yes in My Backyard.”

Other members of the bipartisan group include U.S. Reps. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; Scott Peters and Robert Garcia, both Democrats of California; Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo.; Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., Auchincloss’ office said in a statement announcing its creation.

“The cost of housing is the greatest economic challenge facing Massachusetts. The answer: build more housing,” the Newton lawmaker said. “At all levels of government, Americans need permitting & land use reforms that unlock more housing production.”

Zzzzz …

If you lost sleep on Election Night, take heart, you’re hardly alone.

Nearly 93% of Americans said the nation’s quadrennial political drama cost them some shut-eye this year, according to a post-election study by SleepCycle.

The website analyzed more than 593,000 sleep sessions to come up with its results. And if there’s any comfort, Americans slept better in 2024 than they did during the 2020 election, the analysis found.

In Massachusetts, 73% of residents reported some quality shuteye on Nov. 5. And most of you headed to bed around 11:35 p.m., according to the analysis.

Voters in Wyoming got the soundest sleep on Election Day, while Mississippi voters had the roughest night, the analysis found.

They said it

“They continue to deliver on the schedule that we’ve set, and the quality has not shifted. Quality, in fact, has gotten better … All of the learning curve that took place during the Orange Line [car delivery] prior to myself getting here is being factored in, so now the Red Line cars are performing right off the bat.”

— MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng on the improving quality of the T’s newly delivered Red and Orange Line cars after the agency “reset” its contract with Chinese manufacturer CRRC (via State House News Service).

More MassLive politics coverage

A new state law could ease Mass.’ nursing shortage. Here’s how

Boston council worried about missing ballots, but says receivership is ‘premature’

Economic development bill green-lights investments across Western Massachusetts

Mass. Gov Healey signs nearly $4B economic development bill clearing the field for new Revs stadium

Mass. Rep. Clark retains top House leadership post

Mass. rail backers push for ‘Northern Tier’ passenger trains

Charles Luster, co-founder of Uncommonwealth Group, running for Worcester City Council

Turned up to 11

Because, sometimes, you just need to start the work week with Carly Rae Jepsen. Here she is, live, with Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers with a live version of “Tiny Moves,” recorded at Fisher Green Pavilion in Seattle in July.

Your Monday long read

President-elect Donald Trump has been populating his incoming administration with allies and loyalists from the two states he calls home — New York and Florida. On Friday, the Republican named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general.

Writing for The Dispatch, Michael Warren delves into the Sunshine State’s move into the national spotlight.

Here’s the germane bit:

“No one represents this Florida takeover better than Susie Wiles, the co-chair of Trump’s 2024 campaign who will serve as his White House chief of staff. And Wiles is not just the architect (along with Chris LaCivita) of Trump’s victory this year,” Warren wrote. “She’s a powerhouse in Florida Republican politics, getting a large amount of credit for both Rick Scott’s out-of-nowhere victory in his 2010 run for governor and Ron DeSantis’ win in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Wiles ran the Trump campaign’s Florida operation in 2016, putting the state back in the Republican column for the first time since 2004. In the eight years since, Florida has only tipped further into the GOP’s column, up and down the ballot.”

That’s it for this morning. Tips, comments, and suggestions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, folks.

“Spider-Man” superstar Tom Holland dropped in for a surprise visit to the Campus School at Boston College, which will be receiving new adaptive equipment and technology thanks to a $25,000 grant from a nonprofit run by the actor’s family.

Holland, whose girlfriend Zendaya is shooting a film called “The Drama” in Boston and other Massachusetts towns, spent several hours Thursday in each of the six classrooms at the Campus School, which educates students ages 3-22 with extensive support needs, according to a press release from the college located in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The British actor talked with students and even jumped in on tambourine and vocals during a music therapy session.

“We are so grateful to Tom Holland for taking the time to visit our small special needs school,” said Campus School Interim Director Thomas Miller. “He participated in a music session, posed for photos, and fully immersed himself into our students’ activities and their hearts.”

Nonverbal students were able to greet Holland using assistive technology, pressing switches or utilizing eye gaze devices to introduce themselves and welcome him to campus.

“Every single student was engaged, they were vibing off the room for sure. The way he engaged with them was really quite beautiful. He was just so natural and so caring,” said Jennifer Miller, the Campus School’s marketing manager. “He couldn’t have been more down to earth. He was fully, fully engaged with our students—they were absolutely the priority—but he was so friendly towards the staff as well.”

Hundreds of BC undergraduate and graduate students have been volunteers and teaching assistants at the Campus School, which was founded in 1970. Last year, a former volunteer’s mother, who knew the Holland family well, called Miller and recommended the Campus School apply for a grant from The Brother’s Trust, which supports nonprofits that “struggle to be heard,” the school said in its news release.

People around Boston have spotting celebrities — Zendaya and Robert Pattinson were seen around town for a reported A24 movie shoot, even popping in to a local pottery shop to unwind.

Last month, The Campus School was awarded a $25,000 grant that will be used to purchase assistive technology as well as a ceiling lift for physical therapy exercises.

The private, publicly funded, special education day school is located within the Lynch School of Education and Human Development on the Boston College campus. The Campus School benefits from innovative research in special education, graduate student Teacher Assistants, a thriving University-wide volunteer program, and meaningful relationships with Boston College athletes and teams, according to the school’s website.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will face off against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden today at 3:30 p.m. EST. Led by superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are strong favorites in this contest; our data model gives them a 73% chance of winning. However, we expect it to be closer than the oddsmakers believe, and have selected Timberwolves +8 (-108) as today’s best bet.

In preparation for this game between Eastern Conference contenders, the data analysts at Dimers have simulated the matchup 10,000 times, then compared the results to current NBA odds to inform the data-driven betting insights below.

This preview includes Dimers’ best bets and predicted scoreline for the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics. To unlock Dimers’ full suite of data-driven betting insights, which includes daily props, trends, and parlays, sign up for Dimers Pro with promo code SYRACUSE10, which will save you 10% off your first subscription payment.

Timberwolves vs. Celtics betting preview

Led by star players such as Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid, the Timberwolves are aiming to beat a Celtics side that boasts Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.

Explore the interactive widget below to discover the latest spread, total, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Timberwolves-Celtics matchup at TD Garden.

Check out all the important details on tonight’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country, including Bet365, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Game details

The key information you need before the Timberwolves vs. Celtics NBA game.

Odds

Odds for the key markets in the Timberwolves-Celtics NBA game.

• Spread: Timberwolves +8 (-108), Celtics -8 (-108)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves +270, Celtics -330
• Total: Over/Under 222.5 (-108/-110)

The odds and lines presented in this article are the best available from selected sports betting site at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Expert prediction: Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Utilizing trusted data analysis and machine learning, the experts at Dimers have performed 10,000 simulations of Sunday’s Timberwolves vs. Celtics matchup.

According to Dimers’ famous predictive analytics model, the Celtics are more likely to defeat the Timberwolves at TD Garden. This prediction is based on the model giving the Celtics a 73% chance of winning the game.

Furthermore, Dimers predicts that the Timberwolves (+8) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 222.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

As always, these predictions and probabilities are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to potential changes.

Timberwolves vs. Celtics best bet

Our top pick for the Timberwolves vs. Celtics game on Sunday is to bet on the Timberwolves +8 (-108).

This expert betting advice is formulated through detailed modeling and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to bring you the best possible plays.

Score prediction for Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Dimers’ predicted final score for the Minnesota vs. Boston game on Sunday has the Celtics winning 114-107.

This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

NBA player props: Sunday

NBA player prop bets offer an enjoyable way to place wagers on the Minnesota vs. Boston matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome of the game.

Dimers, armed with the most reliable information available, projects key individual stats for each team, such as points, rebounds, and assists.

Anthony Edwards is expected to lead the way for the Timberwolves with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is projected to have 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Timberwolves vs. Celtics prop picks

To get a better idea of how each player might impact the game, here is a breakdown of the projected box scores for both teams:

Minnesota Timberwolves prediction

• Anthony Edwards: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 3 3PT
• Julius Randle: 23 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 2 3PT
• Naz Reid: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 3PT
• Rudy Gobert: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 0 3PT
• Jaden McDaniels: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 3PT

Boston Celtics prediction

• Jayson Tatum: 24 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 3 3PT
• Jaylen Brown: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 3PT
• Derrick White: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 3 3PT
• Al Horford: 12 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 3PT
• Jrue Holiday: 11 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 3PT

NBA Sunday: Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Get ready for Sunday’s game between the Timberwolves and Celtics in the NBA at TD Garden, which is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the NBA best bets and NBA predictions in this article are derived from 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Timberwolves vs. Celtics matchup, and they are accurate at the time of publishing to help you make more informed choices when placing bets at online sportsbooks.

Please note that when engaging in online betting, it is important to exercise responsible gambling practices and seek reputable sources for accurate and up-to-date information.